Week 6: Local Geographies

 

As your first post and start to our discussion for this week, please write a short but detailed two paragraph description of your neighborhood. What does it look like, smell like, sound like? What does your house or apartment look like? Do you have a backyard? How long have you lived there? Please use as many adjectives and descriptive details as possible. Think creatively. Help us to “see” your home. After you have done this, please then locate your neighborhood on the Seattle Civil Rights webpage:

http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/segregated.htm (Links to an external site.)

• Once you’ve spent some time exploring the website, please write at least one additional paragraph that addresses the specific legacy of your neighborhood as it relates to racial segregation. More specifically, what were the racial covenants (laws) of your neighborhood?
• Your post should be at least three paragraphs (two paragraphs of description and one paragraph of historical legacy of your neighborhood).

 

Additional notes:

• When assessing your neighborhood description, I will look for detailed descriptions as well as the depth of engagement with the second part of the assignment.
• If your neighborhood is not on the website or you do not live in Seattle, YOU WILL NEED to do additional research on segregation policies in your city/county/neighborhood.
• I am not looking for racial demographics (statistical breakdown of racial groups in your neighborhood). Rather I want you to try your best to understand/interpret how the legal system and its historical policies may have shaped where you currently live. 
• If you live in a close suburb of Seattle, you may also consider how Seattle policies on race affected the construction of the suburb.
• If you used to live in the area but are now living somewhere else, please research the neighborhood you lived in while you were here.
• You may also want to consider how U.S. government policies regarding indigenous land shaped where you live today. There are maps and more information here: https://www.washingtontribes.org/the-tribes-of-washington/ (Links to an external site.)  and here: https://ais.washington.edu/nations-and-tribes-washington-state (Links to an external site.)
• Please respect your own comfort level when writing details about  your home/neighborhood. You can approximate your location and be vague about the things you don’t feel comfortable sharing.
• Cite all sources.